Category: bath and body

LAVANILA

I know I sound like a pre-teen girl, but I ADORE vanilla scents. There is something so comforting about that warm, spicy smell. Because I know they are so personal, I try to make it a rule not to recommend perfumes. But just in case some of you out there love vanilla just as much as me, I wanted to mention LAVANILA.

LAVANILA was created by Danielle Raynor and Laura DiGirolamo, both beauty industry veterans. Their goal was to create fragrances that were healthy, natural and skin-friendly. They selected vanilla as their anchor for its warm and natural qualities. LAVANILA, Madagascar’s native word for the ingredient, was adopted as the company’s name. Traditional beauty products contain fragrances formulated with ingredients that can irritate skin and aggravate senses. Because your skin absorbs up to 60 percent of what is applied, LAVANILA set out to create formulas from 100% organic and natural ingredients, free from harsh chemicals.

The couple of scents I have sampled are definitely not sweet. As they say on their website, this is more “vanilla bean” than “vanilla cookie”. The collections include:

Pure Vanilla Collection: Known to the LAVANILA creators as the “Perfect Vanilla,” this is their standard scent. Blending the freshness of Madagascar vanilla with warm patchouli and pure Tonka bean, the combination is soothing and sweet for both your skin and senses.
Vanilla Grapefruit Collection: This citrus scent uplifts and refreshes with hints of grapefruit and lime. Blended with rich Madagascar vanilla, this unique, crisp fragrance is accented with warm cedarwood for a comforting aroma.
Vanilla Coconut Collection: Young coconut, Tahitian white flowers, and Madagascar vanilla bean create an indulgent aroma in this collection. Feel like you’ve bee transported to an exotic island with this rich, tropical fragrance.
Vanilla Lavender Collection: For a feeling of tranquility and serenity, embrace this rich vanilla and lavender mixture. Spanish lavender, rose absolute, violet leaf, and Madagascar vanilla combine to create a rich, all-natural fragrance.

Vanilla Blossom, Vanilla Blackberry and Vanilla Passion Fruit are also available on lavanila.com.

The brand also carries lip butter, body wash, deodorant and a baby-friendly collection. And I love the Mini Roller Ball Set as a stocking stuffer.

Miracle Skin™ Transformer Body SPF 20

Unfortunately, I have loads of redness in my skin. And I suffer from Keratosis pilaris, a VERY common skin condition in which a protein in the skin called keratin forms hard plugs within hair follicles. This appears as red, bumpy skin, usually on the back of your arms. So, I was thrilled to find this one-step skin enhancer that doesn’t necessarily cover skin imperfections but evens them out. Plus, it contains a UVA/UVB SPF 20.

I know this will be a life saver in the summer. But it has already come in pretty handy. For these holiday party cocktail dresses, there is no shortage of bare skin. I have used the Miracle Skin on my arms and legs. It gives legs an even and glowing appearance which actually makes you look longer and leaner. As the eye travels, it isn’t distracted by unevenness and imperfection. And I don’t care how much people tell me they are in fashion again – I just won’t do nude hose.

Miracle Skin Transformer is definitely a workhorse with SPF 20 and antioxidants. The finish is hydrated but mostly matte. This is achieved with a naturally derived silicone formulation that improves skin texture, minimizes fine lines and pores, and reduces pigmentation spots over time. It also uses the M3 Complex to deliver Vitamin A, K, E, and enzyme Q10 for long-term improvement of skin texture. While I would love to say I use this regularly, I generally save it for special occasions, so I can’t speak to long term benefits.

I have the middle shade, Glow Enhancer, which is just enough coverage for my natural skin tone with a slight shimmer and increased depth of color. It is also available in Sheer Enhancer (lighter) and Bronze Enhancer (darker). Swatches from Sephora below:

The middle shade can be a little messy, especially if you are wearing black. So beware if you are wearing tight fitting clothes. But it did beautifully with my short, black cocktail dress with no transfer.

As a side note, Miracle Skin Transform founder, Sarah McNamara, is a corporate beauty vetaran. She launched her products largely on the foundation of social media – very cool. She also believes that “consumers are choosing to buy less in order to buy better, reflecting a desire for products that possess greater meaning in their lives.” She understands that beauty consumers are savvier than ever, and I know that is something all of us are thrilled to hear.

Guerlain Vol de Nuit Perfumed Shimmer Powder for Face & Body

My grandmother wore Shalimar and adorned her vanity with Guerlain Meteorites. So, Guerlain fragrances will always embody glamour for me, particularly the lost elegance of generations past. The recent renaissance of the line retained this beauty, while adding modern elements like ingenious packaging and softer versions of their fragrances. Their refreshed cosmetic line has standouts like Guerlain ‘Terracotta – Terra Inca’ Khôl Kajal and Guerlain Gigolo (70) Rouge G Lipstick.

But when I spotted the Vol de Nuit Perfumed Shimmer Powder, I knew it was every bit of that old-school, Guerlain beauty. The Vol de Nuit fragrance was inspired by woman in aviation in the 1920’s and 1930’s and is comprised of woody, vanilla and powdery iris notes. The powder holds only a hint of the fragrance, but you still can detect clean green and powder scents. I think this is a good thing, as it will not likely interfere with your usual fragrance, but just add another element. Suggested use is for the face and body, but I really like it in my hair. Also works great on my decolletage. On my skin tone, it is completely sheer with blue/silver, iridescent shimmer.

The bottle is a treat in itself. The lacquered glass is reminiscent of the original bottle for Vol de Nuit – a true innovation as the first combining glass and metal. The design evokes the image of a propeller as another nod to the aviators who inspired the fragrance. I am sure to drag this around on all of my holiday travel, but I will enjoy it equally as much with it front and center on my vanity.

Donna Karan ‘Cashmere Mist’ Deodorant / Antiperspirant

“Designer deodorant” you say? “She’s gone too far” you are thinking. But listen up. I wasn’t a believer and I am now a devotee. Cashmere Mist was my trademark perfume in high school. I still always have a bottle on my vanity as I consider it my trademark scent, even if I cheat on her frequently these days.

So, I was aware the line offered a Deodorant / Antiperspirant but couldn’t justify the splurge. But the fashion world was murmuring (aka @dkny was tweeting) how wonderful this product was. So I gave in. She is quite convincing, that Ms. DKNY PR GIRL®.

And like I said, I am a complete convert. My skin is smoother and far less irritated. The scent is subtle, and much more pleasing than anything I have found in the drugstore. And it just plain works. Just as well or better than the “advanced” and “clinical” formulations I was using. For those of you unfamiliar with cashmere mist, it is a light floral, with notes of Moroccan Jasmine, Lily of the Valley, Bergamot, Sandlewood, Amber and Musk. Nordstrom describes: “It is intended only to be smelled by the wearer and those closest to her” and it couldn’t be more true.

I normally don’t encourage one retailer of another, but in this case there is a clear winner. Where this product retails for around $18 elsewhere, you can find it at Nordstrom for $12.

St. Tropez Self Tan Bronzing Spray

I realize that many drugstore offerings are just as good as their department store counterparts. For instance, chemical formulations of self tanner are generally the same across the board. EXCEPT for delivery and scent. Wait…. delivery and scent are the two most important things, at least to me, in a self-tanner. Now, most brands have figured out how to avoid the orange cast, so I am always focused on getting it on evenly and not smelling like a spray tan booth. I am still a HUGE fan of Xen-Tan, but if you are more of a spray girl (or boy), then give this a whirl.

I’m not saying this isn’t a splurge – $35 for a can. But considering I used to pay $30 a pop for professional spray in my San Francisco days, this is a bargain. The can still feels full after three applications to my legs and arms over the last month. (side note: self tanner should be discarded at the end of every season)

St. Tropez Self Tan Bronzing Spray is a fine spray, allowing for all the angles (important if you live in singledom). The spray lasts approximately four of five days on me. There is a naturally looking depth of color, but the highlight is the scent. St. Tropez uses Aromaguard™ fragrance technology that eliminates “self tan aroma by a minimum of 70%”.

Smells good, easy to use, good color. Can’t really ask for more.

bliss Blood Orange+White Pepper Sugar Scrub

You know how some scrubs kinda hurt and then are a total pain to get all those granules off of you? So annoying. I have hunted and found the elusive scrub that doesn’t hurt, is totally effective and makes your skin baby soft. A little bonus: this scrub foams! After a moment of confusion and surprise, I was even more blown away by my new favorite shower indulgence.

We should all be aware that self-tanning requires a pre-scrub, so I consider this a summer must have, especially the day before a spray tan. But I already know I will crave this bright scent in the winter too. The polish has a citrus, white pepper scent with a touch of coriander. Sounds delish, right? It was actually inspired by a cocktail!

And one other point worth mentioning. The body polish effect was profound! At my little soiree this weekend, I wore a short cocktail dress and was thrilled with the shimmer and glimmer my legs rocked after using this stuff.